Continuing Certification Requirements

With the exception of CAPM, all holders of PMI credentials must maintain their certification status by 'earning' a specified number of PDU (Professional Development Unit) points every three years. These PDU points can be earned in a number of ways including attendance at PMI events, seminars and specified training. PMPs must report their professional development activities under the Continuing Certification Requirements Program (CCR). The specific requirements for each credential are:

PMPs and PgMPs must accrue a minimum of 60 Professional Development Units (PDUs) during each three year CCR cycle* and comply with PMI's renewal requirements (including payment of a fee) to maintain their certification status. Holders of both certifications (PgMP and PMP) can use the same PDUs for both certifications.

PMI-SP holders must obtain 30 PDUs during each three year CCR cycle* in the specialised area of project scheduling and comply with PMI's renewal requirements (including payment of a fee) to maintain their certification status. These PDUs can also be used towards PMP and or PgMP PDU requirements.

PMI-RMP holders must obtain 30 PDUs during each three year CCR cycle* in the specialised area of project risk management and comply with PMI's renewal requirements (including payment of a fee) to maintain their certification status. These PDUs can also be used towards PMP and or PgMP PDU requirements.

There is no CCR requirement for CAPM, your CAPM qualification lasts for 5 years then expires. After the 5 year period a person either re-sits the CAPM exam or more sensibly moves on to take the PMP credential.

* Each 3 year cycle starts and ends on the anniversary of the date you were awarded your credential.

You will typically earn one PDU for every one hour spent in a planned, structured learning experience or activity. Fractions of PDUs may be reported in 0.25 increments following one full hour. When attending conferences, one claim is made for the whole event, although you still need to keep records of the sessions actually attended.

In addition to attending formal training courses, workshops, conferences and seminars; PDUs may also be earned by attending most Chapter meetings, participating in voluntary work (eg on a PMI committee), by self directed study, professional activities and by presenting papers at conferences, etc.

Failure to satisfy the Continuing Certification Requirements will result in the loss of your credential. PgMPs, PMPs, PMI-RMPs and PMI-SPs who do not complete their CCR by the expiration date of their certification will be placed on suspended certification status. Suspended certification status indicates that the individual may not use credential or certification mark, nor identify or represent them self as a PgMP, PMP, PMI-RMP or PMI-SP, or otherwise certified by PMI until the overdue requirements are accomplished within a maximum of one year beyond their official expiration date. The date of the next CCR cycle will not change after reinstatement to active status from suspension.

A person who does not meet the overdue requirements within the suspension period will lose their certification. After losing the designation due to failure in completing the CCR program an individual must start the entire certification process over to regain the certification.